Optical amplifier, optical amplifying repeater and transmission apparatus of wavelength division multiplexed signal light using the same

Abstract

Flatness of a gain (optical output level) is maintained even when a wavelength division multiplex signal light (WDM signal light) is amplified in an optical amplification utilizing Raman amplification function. The optical amplifier comprises: two (first and second) pumping light sources for Raman amplification for outputting first and second pumping lights; the wavelength multiplexer for Raman amplification for allowing the first and second pumping lights to be incident on optical fiber transmission paths, where the WDM signal light propagates, in the direction opposite to the propagation direction of the signal light. The signal lights are Raman amplified by the both pumping lights. A wavelength of the first pumping light is set such that the gain of the Raman amplified signal light declines in the right direction, and, on the other side, the wavelength of the second pumping light is set such that the gain declines in the left direction. Gradients for showing a relation between the wavelength and the gain in Raman amplification by the first and second pumping lights are made to be in opposite directions from each other. Optical output levels and the wavelengths of the first and second pumping lights are set such that the gains for the signal lights included in the Raman amplified WDM signal light become substantially equal to each other.